By Firstdespatch Desk Apr 17, 2026
Agartala, April 17 (FD) In a landmark verdict in the 2026 elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), the Tipra Motha Party, led by royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarma stormed back to power with an emphatic mandate, securing 24 out of 28 seats and consolidating its dominance across the tribal belt of the state.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered a major setback, managing to win only four seats, while the CPI(M), Congress, and the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) failed to open their accounts, marking a complete rout for the traditional players in the council.
According to official results released by the State Election Commission on Friday, Tipra Motha candidates registered sweeping victories across nearly all constituencies, reflecting a strong consolidation of tribal votes in favour of the regional party. Prominent winners include Rabindra Debbarma (Simna-Tamakari), Buddha Kumar Debbarma (Amtali-Golaghati), James Debbarma (Ramchandraghat), Dhirendra Debbarma (Demchhara-Kachuchhara), Jagadish Debbarma (Jirania), David Murasing (Kathalia-Mirja-Rajapur), and Prasmit Debbarma (Halahali-Asharambari), among others.
In contrast, the BJP could retain only Chhawmanu, Dasda-Kanchanpur, Silachhari-Manubankul, and Machmara constituencies, underscoring a sharp erosion of its support base in the tribal areas.
The outcome marks a significant shift from the 2021 ADC elections, when Tipra Motha had won 16 seats (18 with allies) and the BJP had secured nine. The party’s improved tally this time signals both consolidation and expansion of its support, while its rivals have been virtually wiped out.
Political observers described the verdict as a turning point in Tripura’s hill politics, with Tipra Motha emerging as the undisputed dominant force and identity-driven regional politics gaining further ground.
With a clear majority, Tipra Motha is set to form the new council. However, expectations will be high as the party transitions from electoral success to governance. For the BJP, the result is being seen as a warning sign, highlighting the need for organisational recalibration ahead of future electoral contests, including the 2028 Assembly polls.
TIPRA Motha was founded in 2019 by royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarma after his resignation from the Congress as President of the party in the state.
Following the party’s victory, Debbarma urged supporters to maintain peace and refrain from any form of violence. “When we fight, the dophas are affected. Today, love has triumphed over hatred. The true victory will be if we do not indulge in violence. TIPRA Motha, BJP, IPFT, CPI(M) and Congress are all like brothers—we are all Tiprasas. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace,” he said in a social media post.
Reacting to the results, BJP minister Ratan Lal Nath said, “The people’s mandate is paramount. As I had stated earlier, if voting were based on the development work carried out over the past seven-and-a-half to eight years, the BJP would have emerged victorious. However, when voting is driven by sentiment, the outcome can take a different direction.” FD JK